In a boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing programme, the Indian Navy has taken delivery of ‘Malwan’, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) built by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi. The induction marks another milestone under the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push to strengthen self-reliance in defence production.

‘Malwan’ is the second vessel in a planned series of eight shallow water anti-submarine warfare crafts being constructed for the Navy. The ship has been designed and built in India to naval specifications and carries more than 80% indigenous content, underscoring the growing role of domestic industry and MSMEs in complex warship construction.

Named after the historic coastal town of Malwan in Maharashtra, the vessel also revives the legacy of the earlier INS Malwan, a minesweeper that served the Navy until 2003. The naming reflects the Navy’s practice of preserving distinguished maritime traditions while inducting modern combat platforms.

At nearly 80 metres in length and with a displacement of around 1,100 tonnes, ‘Malwan’ has been built for operations in shallow coastal waters. It is powered by a high-agility waterjet propulsion system, giving it superior manoeuvrability in littoral zones where submarine threats can be harder to detect and track.

The vessel is equipped with torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, advanced sonar systems, and modern radar and surveillance suites, enabling it to carry out underwater surveillance and anti-submarine missions effectively. In addition to its primary ASW role, the craft is also designed for low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare, broadening its operational utility for coastal defence.

The delivery of ‘Malwan’ comes as the Indian Navy continues to expand its coastal and underwater warfare capabilities through domestically built platforms, reinforcing both maritime security and India’s long-term strategic autonomy in defence manufacturing.

Source: News18